What is Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA)? Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) is a sleep disorder in which a person has irregular breathing at night, characterised by repeated collapse of the upper airways during sleep, causing breathing to stop. The brain automatically reacts by waking the person to restart breathing.
When breathing stops (known as apnoea), the levels of oxygen in the blood begin to drop. After a few seconds the lack of oxygen causes a reflex response. This forces open the airways causing the person to produce a loud snort, a series of gasping breaths and often loud snoring. Sometimes, during this period of ‘arousal’, there may also be kicking and flailing of the arms and legs.
Sufferers are often totally unaware of their symptoms and unless they sleep alone, their sleep partner may also end up with a disturbed night’s sleep.
What causes the airway to collapse during sleep?Several factors can cause the airway to collapse. For example:
Occasional brief patches of sleep apnoea are harmless and are quite common in a normal adult. People with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) often snore loudly. From time to time they may stop breathing and may snort or choke as well as snore. This interrupted breathing pattern interferes with restful sleep. It affects daytime alertness and makes it difficult to function well during the day.
Some sufferers experience hundreds of episodes each night, symptoms may include:
If OSA is left untreated there can be long-term risks. For example, there is an increased risk of high blood pressure and stroke. Also, daytime tiredness can contribute to accidents.
The good news is that Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) can be treated.
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